The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast

The Crane: Episode #13 - China Pivots To African Union On 60th Anniversary? Plus Preview of Upcoming Episodes

In this episode, we look at China’s increased engagement with the African Union, as the latter celebrates its 60th anniversary, we appreciate the architectural beauty of the new AU HQ (built by China) and give you a preview of what we’ll cover in upcoming episodes. 
 
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast is a bi-monthly podcast giving you a fresh look at the news, events, and debates around China-Africa relations from the perspective of two young(ish) Africans.
You can listen to all episodes of The Crane for free anywhere you get podcasts.
 
Brought to you by the Dongsheng Collective. Follow us @DongshengNews on Twitter, Instagram, Telegram & TikTok. Or visit www.dongshengnews.org.
 
The bumper music uses the song "Live It" by Ketsa, under a single track perpetual license that gives the licensee the perpetual right to use the track in commercial projects worldwide.
 
 #TheCranePodcast #ChinaAfrica #Dongsheng 

The Crane: Episode #12 - Country Focus: Zambia - Debt Crisis, Diplomacy and the US Lithium “Kafwafwa” with Dr Grieve Chelwa

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Grieve Chelwa to look at the Zambian debt crisis, China’s relationship with Zambia, US Sec. Treasury Janet Yellen’s visit to Lusaka, and the kafwafwa caused by the US in the DRC-Zambia agreement on developing renewable energy resources. 
 
Dr. Grieve Chelwa is a Zambian economist with broad research interests mainly in the area of African Economic Development. Grieve currently serves as director of research at the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy at the New School and also serves as coordinator of the Collective on African Political Economy (CAPE) which is housed by Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. 
 
For more general information:
‘China blamed for Zambia’s debt, but the West’s banks and agencies enabled it’ by Grieve Chelwa, 18 November 2020
‘IMF Deal: Cry, My Beloved Zambia’ by Grieve Chelwa’,  8 September 2022
 
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast is a bi-monthly podcast giving you a fresh look at the news, events, and debates around China-Africa relations from the perspective of two young(ish) Africans.
You can listen to all episodes of The Crane for free anywhere you get podcasts.
Brought to you by the Dongsheng Collective. Follow us @DongshengNews on Twitter, Instagram, Telegram & TikTok. Or visit www.dongshengnews.org.
The bumper music uses the song "Live It" by Ketsa, under a single track perpetual license that gives the licensee the perpetual right to use the track in commercial projects worldwide.
 
 #TheCranePodcast #ChinaAfrica #Dongsheng

The Crane: Episode #11 - New Chinese FM Heads To Africa & What this Tells Us about Foreign Government Priorities in Africa

Welcome, we start 2023 by analyzing the new Chinese Foreign Minister Qing Gang’s visit to Africa. Who is he? Which countries did he visit and why? And how did the world react to this?  
 
For more general information:
‘Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s 5-nation African tour a show of solidarity, strategic importance, analysts say’ by Jevans Nyabiage, https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3206824/chinese-foreign-minister-qin-gangs-five-nation-african-tour-show-solidarity-strategic-importance 
‘Africa should not be arena for international competition, says Chinese foreign minister’ by Dawit Endeshaw, https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/africa-should-not-be-arena-international-competition-says-chinese-foreign-2023-01-11/ 
 
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast is a bi-monthly podcast giving you a fresh look at the news, events, and debates around China-Africa relations from the perspective of two young(ish) Africans.
 
You can listen to all episodes of The Crane for free anywhere you get podcasts.
 
Brought to you by the Dongsheng Collective. Follow us @DongshengNews on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram & TikTok. Or visit www.dongshengnews.org.
 
The bumper music uses the song "Live It" by Ketsa, under a single track perpetual license that gives the licensee the perpetual right to use the track in commercial projects worldwide.
 
 #TheCranePodcast #ChinaAfrica #Dongsheng 

The Crane: Episode #10 - 2022 Final Episode: Why Are We Doing This?

Complements of the season! In this episode, we talk about who we are and why we started our Africa-China podcast as well as what you can expect from us in 2023! 
 
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast is a bi-monthly podcast giving you a fresh look at the news, events, and debates around China-Africa relations from the perspective of two young(ish) Africans.
You can listen to all episodes of The Crane for free anywhere you get podcasts.
Brought to you by the Dongsheng Collective. Follow us @DongshengNews on Twitter, Instagram, Telegram & TikTok. Or visit www.dongshengnews.org.
The bumper music uses the song "Live It" by Ketsa, under a single track perpetual license that gives the licensee the perpetual right to use the track in commercial projects worldwide.
 #TheCranePodcast #ChinaAfrica #Dongsheng 

The Crane: Episode #9 - China’s True Role in Climate Change & Africa’s Struggle to Go Green

With COP27 on the news we look at climate change, China’s true role in it, building an ecological civilization, honoring climate adaptation financing in Africa, and why our continent will not join the ‘green energy’ transition anytime soon.  
For more on some of the topics discussed check out:
The Global Carbon Project by CDIAC, 14 November 2016.
China’s pledge to help Africa overcome climate change lays ground for green investment boom by SCMP, 6 November 2022.
The State of Climate Finance in Africa:
Climate Finance Needs of African Countries by Climate Policy Initiative, June 2022.
Quantifying national responsibility for climate breakdown by Jason Hickel, September 2020.
Only One Earth by Tricontinental: Institute of Social Research, 2 June 2021.
 
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast is a bi-monthly podcast giving you a fresh look at the news, events, and debates around China-Africa relations from the perspective of two young(ish) Africans.
You can listen to all episodes of The Crane for free anywhere you get podcasts.
Brought to you by the Dongsheng Collective. Follow us @DongshengNews on Twitter, Instagram, Telegram & TikTok. Or visit www.dongshengnews.org.
The bumper music uses the song "Live It" by Ketsa, under a single track perpetual license that gives the licensee the perpetual right to use the track in commercial projects worldwide.
 #TheCranePodcast #ChinaAfrica #Dongsheng 

Episode #8 - The Crane: Episode #8 - Afronauts, the Scramble for Space, & China

In this episode, we talk about some of the ‘Afronauts’ who dreamt of reaching the moon before the US & Soviet Union, the new Global North scramble for extraplanetary resources, and what practical steps African nations are taking around space cooperation projects with China. 
For more on some of the topics discussed check out:
The Zambian “Afronaut” Who Wanted to Join the Space Race by The New Yorker, 11 March 2017.
China aims to lift Africa’s space ambitions in drive to beat US domination by SCMP, 8 September 2022.
China Selects Kenya for Special Mission in Space by Kenyans.co.ke, 29 September 2022.
 
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast is a bi-monthly podcast giving you a fresh look at the news, events, and debates around China-Africa relations from the perspective of two young(ish) Africans.
You can listen to all episodes of The Crane for free anywhere you get podcasts.
Brought to you by the Dongsheng Collective. Follow us @DongshengNews on Twitter, Instagram, Telegram & TikTok. Or visit www.dongshengnews.org.
The bumper music uses the song "Live It" by Ketsa, under a single track perpetual license that gives the licensee the perpetual right to use the track in commercial projects worldwide.
 #TheCranePodcast #ChinaAfrica #Dongsheng 

The Crane: Episode #7 - Africa Says ‘NO’ to Cold War 2.00

African leaders have resoundingly rejected for our continent to be turned into a battleground for a new, US-led Cold War which, while targeting Russia and China directly, is having huge political and economic impacts in the Global South.
We explore how the shortcomings of the UN system and lack of equitable representation in other major multilateral organizations have undermined African progress and development.
Fun facts include the time the Global North opposed Africa’s UN development agenda because of a single phrase. And current plans to spend US$1.5 billion on global information warfare against China – while China spends to build essential infrastructure in Africa through the BRI.
For more on some of the topics discussed check out:
The United States Is Waging a New Cold War: A Socialist Perspective by Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, 13 September 2022.
Looking Over the Horizon at Nonalignment and Peace by Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research, 27 September 2022.
Making Multilateralism Work for Africa by Development Reimagined, September 2022.
Australia ‘must ready Solomon Islands invasion’ to stop China security deal by The Courier-Mail, March 2022
 
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast is a bi-monthly podcast giving you a fresh look at the news, events, and debates around China-Africa relations from the perspective of two young(ish) Africans.
You can listen to all episodes of The Crane for free anywhere you get podcasts.
Brought to you by the Dongsheng Collective. Follow us @DongshengNews on Twitter, Instagram, Telegram & TikTock. Or visit www.dongshengnews.org.
The bumper music uses the song "Live It" by Ketsa, under a single track perpetual license that gives the licensee the perpetual right to use the track in commercial projects worldwide.
 #TheCranePodcast #ChinaAfrica #Dongsheng 

The Crane: Episode #6 - What Is the Mid-Autumn Festival?

In this episode, we do a short cultural snippet about the Chinese Mid-Autumn festival. We look into the origins and customs of the Chinese harvest holiday that comes with orange flowers, poetry, matchmaking, and ancient surfers!
 
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast is a bi-monthly podcast giving you a fresh look at the news, events, and debates around China-Africa relations from the perspective of two young(ish) Africans.
You can listen to all episodes of The Crane for free anywhere you get podcasts.
Brought to you by the Dongsheng Collective. Follow us @DongshengNews on Twitter, Instagram, Telegram & TikTock. Or visit www.dongshengnews.org.
The bumper music uses the song "Live It" by Ketsa, under a single track perpetual license that gives the licensee the perpetual right to use the track in commercial projects worldwide.
 #TheCranePodcast #ChinaAfrica #Dongsheng 

The Crane: Episode #5 - Country Focus: China & DRC - Mining, Local Elites, & US Scramble for Strategic Minerals

In this episode, we discuss China’s relationship with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with Congolese researcher and human rights activist Kambale Musavuli. 
Kambale takes us through everything from the responsibility of local elites in delivering projects, to the US efforts to cut China off from vital strategic minerals (involving both Hilary Clinton and Antony Blinken), and dispelling myths about the ‘controversial’ Chinese-owned Tenke Fungurume cobalt mine.
For more, check out these resources:
China cancels Democratic Republic of Congo loans as it joins belt and road, SCMP, January 2021, https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3116837/china-cancels-democratic-republic-congo-loans-it-joins-belt 
Why China is making a big play for Congolese cobalt – and other critical minerals, SCMP, August 2021, https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3145065/why-china-making-big-play-congolese-cobalt-and-other-critical 
A Closer Look at China in Africa, Codepink, Feburary 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpAcAEl48PA&t=1737s
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast is a bi-monthly podcast giving you a fresh look at the news, events, and debates around China-Africa relations from the perspective of two young(ish) Africans.
You can listen to all episodes of The Crane for free anywhere you get podcasts.
Brought to you by the Dongsheng Collective. Follow us @DongshengNews on Twitter, Instagram, Telegram & TikTock. Or visit www.dongshengnews.org.
The bumper music uses the song "Live It" by Ketsa, under a single track perpetual license that gives the licensee the perpetual right to use the track in commercial projects worldwide.
 
 #TheCranePodcast #ChinaAfrica #Dongsheng
 

The Crane: Episode #4 - China Deepens Africa Trade Ties While US Plays Geopolitics

The Biden administration just launched the new U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, which is heavily focused on geopolitical competition with Russia & China and less on engagement with African aspirations and interests.
 
In contrast, China has just announced that it is removing almost all trade tariffs on exports from 16 of the world’s least developed countries, many of which are African.   
 
We discuss Africa-China trade politics in the light of this new US policy as well as what the US says and how some African leaders are responding to it. 
 
For more, check out these resources:
U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, US State Department, August 2022, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/U.S.-Strategy-Toward-Sub-Saharan-Africa-FINAL.pdf
Ralph Jennings, “China Cuts Tariffs”, SCMP, 8 August 2022, https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3188149/china-cuts-tariffs-cosies-16-worlds-poorest-nations-us. 
Anna Flack, “China - Africa Trade Hits Record Highs in 2021”, Statista, 1 August 2022, https://www.statista.com/chart/27880/trade-between-china-and-africa/ 
 
The Crane: An Africa-China Podcast is a bi-monthly podcast giving you a fresh look at the news, events, and debates around China-Africa relations from the perspective of two young(ish) Africans.
 
You can listen to all episodes of The Crane for free anywhere you get podcasts.
 
Brought to you by the Dongsheng Collective. Follow us @DongshengNews on Twitter, Instagram, Telegram & TikTock. Or visit www.dongshengnews.org.
 
The bumper music uses the song "Live It" by Ketsa, under a single track perpetual license that gives the licensee the perpetual right to use the track in commercial projects worldwide.
 
 #TheCranePodcast #ChinaAfrica #Dongsheng